The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-02-18

tremulous and sore-the roar Of some
invisible storm penetrates his brain.
Slowly he moves. Ha! smooth spot!
He is going down. down to his doom!
Susie utters wild cry and sinks TO ner
knees, with an awful sense of horror in
her heart. Even then noosed rope is
flung over the sharp roof. but it comes
too late. too late, Susie's blue eyes are
covered-she waits the awful sound OF
the death-fall. waits and still waits. II
does not come.
Once more she dares to look. On
the verge. his feet dangling above the
awful abyss. is the doomed youth. 4
mans face appears above the ridge full
thirty feet distant, and his hand
clutches a rope. at one end of which il
a large moose. This goes down, down.
with slow precision. and finally touches
the brown curls of Hurlock. His hands
clinch the last row of slate: he hangs
half over the caves, clinging with death
like tenacity.
That moment Dan Hurlock suffered
ten thousand deaths. An awful sense
of the great height masters him. and
drops Of sweat almost like hearts blood
ooze from his clammy face. And then
the touch of the rope thrills to his mar
row. He realizes that one is above.
come to his rescue, and yet it can be OF
no avail.
If he releases one hand to seize the
rope, that instant he will go over into
space. He is barely able with both
hands to cling 10 his perch. and oh.
how weak and faint he feels in that ter
ribe moment of bitter suspense.
The rope-can you not grasp it?
No? Well, raise Your head. and will
drop it over
Dan Hurlock hears the words. but he
can not obey. He dare not utter a word.
even to attempt it would hurl him to
eternity he believes. The rope slides
against the Youths head as the man
above urges action. All. to lift his face
an inch would seal Dan Hurlock fate
How tired his arms. his limbs. His
hands are blistered: they are becoming
moist. and begin to lose their tenacious
grip-they are slipping. He moves.
he is going over; he is lost, A touch
against his cheek. lie opens his lips
to utter gaSping cry: something fills
them-the rope. His teeth close about
the hempen cord; his jaws have not
been weakened. As the weak. moist
hand slip away. Dan Hurlock hangs
swayin-. with Il firm clasp Of the teeth
in the rope. and this alone saves him.
Not long thus. then he thruSts an arm
through the moose that quickly closes
about it at the shoulder. tightening
with Il biting grip; then all strength
forsakes the Young climber: the world
is swept away in black unconscious
ness. A long quivering cry from
across the court.
Susie Slayne has witnessed all, and
when she realizes that Dan Hurlock i
safe. she sinks speeches. to Il low
chair. The touch ola tiny point against
her check rouses her. Susie turns her
face. and there. on the back of her
chair. sits Red Dan. his heal bent
aside. one eye half closed. looking rs
wise and solemn Is IN owl.
''Oh. ION wicked Bird
Up springs Susie. abustle with new
life and activity. although it will he
many days before she RECEIVERS from
the shock of that ten minutes awful cx-
pericnce. Red Dan goes back into
his cage. and m hour later. when
the teacher from the opposite win
dow assures her that Dan j.
alive aud doing well. though vet
very weak. Susie smiles and assures
herself that she is happy. 1t WAS an
awful experience. however. one that
will always be remembered with u
sh,nldcr. The lovers quarrel that had
separated Dan Hurloch and Susie weeks
before. happily terminated with Red
Dams cscapade. and the reader may he
stare the quarrel WAS never renewed
Milford J. MCrrjN. IN hstcr- OccGH.